New quit site offers a breath of fresh air

The Palaszczuk Government is helping more Queenslanders stop smoking thanks to the launch of a new one-stop online hub that will give people the tools and resources they need to quit smoking for good.

Minister for Health and Ambulance Services Steven Miles said Queensland Health’s Quit HQ brought together all tobacco-related information in the one place, with quick links to support programs and tools.

"Quit HQ is designed to empower people with the knowledge, positive attitudes, motivation and skills they need to quit smoking and through every stage of their journey,” Minister Miles said.

“It provides interactive tools that can help Queenslanders understand the gravity of smoking, including long term cost, appearance changes and seeing how the body heals after quitting.

“It is a fantastic new resource which will ensure quitting support and information is more accessible and easy to navigate than ever before.”

Minister Miles said the number of Queenslanders who smoked was still too high, with around 450,000 adults smoking daily in 2016.

“Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Queensland, despite a substantial reduction in the smoking rate over the past few decades,” he said.

“On top of the health implications, smoking imposes a heavy financial burden on the Queensland community, estimated at $6.3 billion per annum.

“These costs include healthcare, lost production in the workplace due to absenteeism and premature death, and impact on household finances.

“That’s why our Government continues to invest in initiatives, like Quit HQ, which put quitting at the front of smokers’ minds.”

Minister Miles said the Queensland Government’s target was to decrease adult daily smoking to 10 per cent in Queensland by 2020, which would result in 157,000 fewer adults smoking daily.

“Quit HQ is another step in the right direction to improving the health of those who currently smoke as well as protecting the health of children and other Queenslanders from second-hand smoke,” he said.

“The reduction in smoking rates shows our continued efforts are working, but there is always more work to be done to move towards a smoke-free Queensland.”

Visit Quit HQ at www.qld.gov.au/quithq.

ENDS

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